Unsettling video shows the two faces of Dezi Freeman: Sovereign citizen LAUGHS with cops in bizarre encounter – but when they drive away his tone takes a dark turn

Unearthed footage shows Dezi Freeman laughing and smiling during an encounter with police – before unleashing into an unhinged rant about their ‘countless abominations’ and evilness.

Extraordinary video obtained by the Daily Mail shows that the self-proclaimed sovereign citizen erected a sign by the side of a Victorian highway almost a decade ago saying: ‘Police have declared war on Australians.’ 

Three police officers stop and discuss the sign with Freeman, appearing relaxed and familiar enough with him to address him by his first name. Freeman is initially wary, then good humoured – before a resentful edge creeps into his voice. 

The video was filmed on March 20, 2016, nine-and-a-half years before the ‘sovereign citizen’ allegedly shot two police officers dead and wounded a third when they executed a warrant at his home in Porepunkah, 330km north-west of Melbourne, on August 26. 

Freeman tells the officers that he, his companion and ‘hell of a lot of people’ agreed with his sign about police declaring war on Australians. 

The officers warn him to obey the law and not to obstruct or stop traffic.

After telling them, ‘I am concerned that you are going to act unlawfully today, so please don’t’, Freeman zooms in to film the registration plates of their police vehicles.

But after switching off his phone camera and then turning it on again, he lightens up and laughs, saying ‘this is take two’.

The oldest of the three police officers is seen with a smile on his face.

Freeman agrees that he is conducting ‘a peaceful protest’ and then tells them: ‘We know the law, we know our rights and we also know our responsibilities and we make sure that we abide by those. 

‘We just want everybody to do the same, especially the police that we employ.’

With that, the officers decide to leave, saying ‘have a good day Dez’ and ‘have a good day mate’. 

The older cop gives him a thumbs up and compliments Freeman on having made a ‘very well constructed sign’ then joking that he should ‘remember sunscreen and water’.

Freeman responds as they are walking away and climbing into their cars, ‘I’d just like to thank the other officer and thank you too, thank you for your professionalism and I hope other officers will see you as an example.

‘That’s how policing should be. We’re clearly not breaking any laws and they didn’t.’

But once the police vehicles disappear off into the background, Freeman’s mood turns dark.  

‘So for all those other cops out there, take a page out of these guys’ book and do the right thing,’ he says, in a hectoring tone.

‘And don’t try to criminalise innocent people. These guys didn’t. These guys were great, alright?’

Freeman throws his hands up and a resentful edge creeps into his voice as he says, ‘That’s all we want. Police to obey the law, in a fair and just manner that helps Australia, and doesn’t compromise it, as has been done, in countless abominations.

‘Especially in Melbourne, with people being insulted and unlawfully moved on from protests, and a litany of other crimes committed by police.’

Dezi Bird Freeman has now been on the run for nine days since his alleged acts of murder, and despite a manhunt by up to 450 officers in Victoria’s high country, no sign of him has been found.

Funerals are yet to be held for police victims Vadim De Waart, 36, and Neal Thompson, 59.